Department of the InteriorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Department of the InteriorMon, 24 Oct 2016 12:01:32 +0000Department of the Interiorhttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org
Stephanie JoyceThe fight over the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota has brought to the fore tensions over whether tribes are adequately consulted about development that could affect them. Now, the Secretary of the Interior has issued an order addressing that. Secretary Sally Jewell’s order directs agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service to collaborate more with tribes on resource management. Specifically, it suggests more cooperation on issues affecting fish and wildlife resources, cultural sites and public information created by agencies about the tribes.The order notes that many agency bureaus already consult with tribes on a variety of public lands issues. It encourages those that don’t look at whether more collaboration might be appropriate.Interior Secretary Calls For More Collaboration With Tribeshttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/interior-secretary-calls-more-collaboration-tribes
96291 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgFri, 21 Oct 2016 22:02:17 +0000Interior Secretary Calls For More Collaboration With TribesStephanie JoyceSenators from Wyoming, Colorado and North Dakota are among those asking the government to suspend its review of the federal coal program.In January, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced a comprehensive review of the federal coal program, and a moratorium on new coal leasing while that review is underway.In a letter addressed to Secretary Jewell, a group of nine senators says the outcome of the review is “pre-baked.” As evidence for that claim, they cite a recent report issued by the President’s Council of Economic Advisors that already finds serious flaws in the federal coal program.Most of the coal mined in the West is owned by the federal government. Critics have long said the program needs to be updated to reflect new concerns about climate change and to ensure taxpayers receive a fair price for the publicly owned resource. Senators Ask Interior Secretary To Suspend Coal Reviewhttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/senators-ask-interior-secretary-suspend-coal-review
92864 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgSat, 16 Jul 2016 00:46:35 +0000Senators Ask Interior Secretary To Suspend Coal ReviewStephanie JoyceNew rules from the Department of the Interior aim to close what many have called a loophole in how federal coal resources are valued. Most of the coal mined in Wyoming is owned by the federal government. Companies pay royalties for the right to mine that coal—in theory, 12.5 percent of the sale price. But determining that sale price is complicated by the fact that coal is often first sold to companies wholly or partially owned by the coal miner, and then re-sold to unaffiliated companies. Critics say the government’s current method of valuing those sales allows companies to avoid tens of millions of dollars in royalty payments. Among other things, the new rules change the way the sale price is calculated, so that it is based off the first sale to an unaffiliated company. Industry groups immediately criticized the new rules, saying they will discourage new coal development on federal lands. In a statement, Cloud Peak Energy, one of the nation’s largest coal producers, called the changeFeds Change Coal Royalty Rules To Close Loopholehttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/feds-change-coal-royalty-rules-close-loophole
92056 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgFri, 01 Jul 2016 16:21:16 +0000Feds Change Coal Royalty Rules To Close LoopholeStephanie JoyceA U.S. District Court judge in Wyoming has struck down a rule that would have governed fracking on federal lands. Judge Scott Skavdahl concluded in his ruling that the Department of the Interior does not have the authority to regulate fracking and called the attempt to do so an “end-run” around the 2005 Energy Policy Act. That law explicitly exempted fracking from regulation by another arm of the executive branch—the Environmental Protection Agency. Among other things, the Interior rule would have required more testing of wells on federal lands, to ensure they don’t leak, as well the disclosure of chemicals used in fracking. Wyoming, Colorado and North Dakota were among the states that sued to have the rule set aside. The states argued that not only would the federal regulations be duplicative, but that they would interfere with existing state policies. They were joined in their appeal by several industry groups, including the Independent Petroleum Association of America. Although theJudge Strikes Down Federal Fracking Rulehttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/judge-strikes-down-federal-fracking-rule
91671 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgWed, 22 Jun 2016 05:38:55 +0000Judge Strikes Down Federal Fracking RuleStephanie Joyce In President Obama’s recent State of the Union address, there was a line that caught the ear of people in the energy industry. “I’m going to push to change the way we manage our oil and coal resources, so that they better reflect the costs they impose on taxpayers and our planet,” he said. On Friday, the Department of the Interior made good on that promise, putting a freeze on new federal coal leases while it reviews the program. Existing mines will be able to continue operating and new mines can make their way through the environmental review process, but a decision about whether to approve them won't happen until the review is completed. Announcing the temporary moratorium on a call with reporters, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell portrayed the review as a non-partisan, common sense move, pointing out the federal coal program hasn’t been updated since the 1980s. “That was a time, 30 years ago, when our nation had very different priorities and needs," she said. "The result was aIn Latest Move On Climate, Obama Administration Halts Coal Leasinghttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/latest-move-climate-obama-administration-halts-coal-leasing
85938 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgTue, 19 Jan 2016 17:24:37 +0000In Latest Move On Climate, Obama Administration Halts Coal LeasingMelodie EdwardsIn response to a 15-year drought around much of the West, the U.S. Interior Department announced a new initiative called the Natural Resources Investment Center. The idea is to make it easier for the private sector to invest in water conservation projects like water transfers. Water Resources Director Jimmy Hague with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership says such transfers allow water to be stored and moved to places where it’s needed most during dry spells. “We have some more work to do to make sure we have good market-based options for farmers, ranchers, cities so they can market conserved water, make a profit off of it but also help the aquifer and help the watershed as a whole.” The new center is part of the Obama administrations Build America Investment Initiative. Hague says the new center will make water transfers profitable for water rights holders like many Wyoming ranchers and farmers. He says collaborations between the public and private sectors offer the bestNew Initiative Offers Financial Incentives For Conservation Effortshttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/new-initiative-offers-financial-incentives-conservation-efforts
85004 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgTue, 22 Dec 2015 16:23:22 +0000New Initiative Offers Financial Incentives For Conservation EffortsStephanie JoyceThe Secretary of the Interior called coal mine self-bonding “a big issue” in testimony to a Congressional committee Wednesday. Coal companies typically have to put up money before they mine, to guarantee cleanup, but self-bonding gives companies a pass if they are deemed financially healthy. In the hearing, Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan said allowing self-bonding treats some coal companies as “too big to fail,” and pointed out that recent bankruptcies undermine that notion. She asked Interior Secretary Sally Jewell if taxpayers will be on the hook for bailing those companies out. “There is no question that with the increased financial fragility of many coal mining companies, if they are self-bonded, that does potentially leave the states and the taxpayers at risk,” Jewell responded. She added that the Interior Department is looking into the situation in collaboration with states, but did not provide any specifics. More than $2 billion of Wyoming’s estimated $3Interior Secretary Says Coal Mine "Self-Bonding" An Issuehttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/interior-secretary-says-coal-mine-self-bonding-issue
84496 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgWed, 09 Dec 2015 23:47:00 +0000Interior Secretary Says Coal Mine "Self-Bonding" An IssueCaroline Ballard Wyoming Ranchers are among those who are pleased with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision not to list the Greater Sage Grouse as an endangered species. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said in her announcement that one of the main reasons the bird wasn’t listed was the cooperation among individuals, industry, and government in conservation efforts. Pat O’toole runs the Ladder Ranch in Savery, Wyoming. He says his ranch took several steps to help Sage Grouse – from putting land in conservation easements to creating more sage brush habitat. "You know I have this saying, there’s no inherent distinction between production and conservation if you’re smart enough to figure it out. And that what I think we’re all trying to do here," says O'toole. O’toole says he and other ranchers are happy their efforts paid off and relieved they won’t be facing any federal regulations that come with an endangered species listing. Their celebration may be short lived, though. WildlifeWyoming Ranchers Happy With Grouse Listing Decisionhttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/wyoming-ranchers-happy-grouse-listing-decision
80963 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgTue, 22 Sep 2015 21:38:28 +0000Wyoming Ranchers Happy With Grouse Listing DecisionMelodie EdwardsPeople in Wyoming are passionate about wildlife. Just say the word “wolf” in mixed company and see what happens. And it’s the state’s long history of negotiating with the federal government over endangered species like the sage grouse and the grizzly that has prompted Governor Matt Mead this month to announce an initiative to reform the 42-year-old Endangered Species Act. I asked him, what made him decide now was the time for this. Governor Mead Looks To Reform Endangered Species Acthttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/governor-mead-looks-reform-endangered-species-act
80475 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgFri, 11 Sep 2015 23:29:27 +0000Governor Mead Looks To Reform Endangered Species ActLeigh Paterson, Inside Energy The Department of the Interior is proposing new regulations to reduce the impact of coal mining on streams. The rule, which has been in the works for six years, creates a buffer zone that restricts mining operations within 100 feet of streams and aquifers. Joe Pizarchik, the director of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement says the rule also aims to restore streams. "In other words, it has to have the same type of water and critters living in the stream after mining and reclamation than there was before mining," Pizarchik said. Some Republicans reacted quickly. In a statement, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso said, "...this overreaching rule is designed to help put coal country out of business." For now the rule is just a proposal and will be open to public comment for 60 days. New Rule Aims To Protect Streams From Coal Mininghttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/new-rule-aims-protect-streams-coal-mining
78006 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgFri, 17 Jul 2015 03:59:55 +0000New Rule Aims To Protect Streams From Coal MiningLeigh Paterson, Inside Energy The federal government is going after a now-defunct Wyoming energy company for failing to document and pay royalties on the gas it had been extracting. The Department of the Interior wants High Plains Gas to pay $6.9 million dollars in outstanding royalties on gas production. The company's website lists a Gillette address but the Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission considers High Plains Gas to be a "non-existent company." In November, Wyoming regulators seized over 2,000 of the company's idle coal bed methane wells after it failed to meet the state’s bonding requirement used to plug them up. Wyoming's coal bed methane gas industry was booming in the early 2000's but it has since dried up thanks to low natural gas prices. For Inside energy, I’m Leigh Paterson. Feds Fine WY Company For Misreporting Gas Extractionhttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/feds-fine-wy-company-misreporting-gas-extraction
77607 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgThu, 09 Jul 2015 03:39:27 +0000Feds Fine WY Company For Misreporting Gas ExtractionStephanie JoyceThe federal government has released its first set of rules addressing fracking on public lands, and they’re already getting pushback—in Congress and in court.The new regulations require things like the disclosure of chemicals used in fracking and more tests to prove that a well isn't leaking into underground aquifers. Environmental and public advocacy groups pushed for the rules because of concerns about the effects of fracking, which along with horizontal drilling, has allowed shale production in the US to boom in recent years. Industry is opposed to federal rules though, saying they unnecessarily duplicate existing state regulations and don't actually address the fracking process. Just hours after the rule was unveiled, the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Western Energy Alliance filed suit, arguing those issues, and also that the rules require disclosure of confidential business information. Mark Barron is one of the attorneys suing the government on behalf ofNew Federal Fracking Rule Faces Fight From Industry, Congresshttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/new-federal-fracking-rule-faces-fight-industry-congress
72608 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgFri, 20 Mar 2015 23:30:32 +0000New Federal Fracking Rule Faces Fight From Industry, CongressMelodie Edwards Last week, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell was in Pinedale, taking part in a ceremony to sign up Wyoming ranchers to help protect sage grouse. These conservation agreements are called Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances or CCAA’s. They’re supposed to protect the birds on private lands, but as Wyoming Public Radio’s Melodie Edwards reports, some wildlife advocates question whether the program really has the teeth to make a difference. It’s an early morning on a sage grouse breeding ground called a lek. Here, every spring, as many as a hundred male sage grouse puff their chests and make their breeding calls. Hear the call from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In its off season, the lek is eerily quiet. But this morning, sage grouse biologists have made the hike out here to teach Secretary Jewell all about these peculiar birds. The lek is located in the bird’s core habitat on the federal land where rancher Brad Bousman grazes his cattle. He’s an oldInterior Secretary Signs Sage Grouse Conservation Agreements With Wyoming Ranchershttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/interior-secretary-signs-sage-grouse-conservation-agreements-wyoming-ranchers
65867 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgFri, 24 Oct 2014 22:46:07 +0000Interior Secretary Signs Sage Grouse Conservation Agreements With Wyoming RanchersMelodie EdwardsThe U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, praised sage grouse conservation efforts in Wyoming during a tour of a ranch outside of Pinedale on Wednesday. The Bousman Ranch is one of nine in Wyoming that have agreed to work with the Fish and Wildlife Service on sage grouse conservation. During the tour Secretary Jewell learned about the ranch’s new strategies for protecting the grouse, such as converting windmill water tanks to solar to eliminate perches for the grouse’s predators like hawks and ravens. “We have here in Wyoming the most effective example of the state and private landowners working in cooperation with multiple federal agencies to protect these ecosystems in perpetuity, to support the ranching lifestyle, to support the sagebrush steppe for the sage grouse, the mule deer and the other species,” she said. In return for the ranchers providing special protections for grouse on their land, they’ve been promised that if the bird is listed as endangered in future, noInterior Secretary Praises Sage Grouse Conservation Effortshttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/interior-secretary-praises-sage-grouse-conservation-efforts
65497 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgThu, 16 Oct 2014 03:55:31 +0000Interior Secretary Praises Sage Grouse Conservation EffortsBob Beck After considerable discussion, the Wyoming legislature approved a bill that would let the state and the federal government move forward with finalizing a deal to swap state owned land in Grand Teton National Park with the federal government. Some senators expressed concern that the federal mineral land won't match the estimated $100 million value of the state's park land, but Jackson Senator Leland Christensen says the bill was changed to ensure the trade will be fair. "I think this bill absolutely sets us on a course that Wyoming's interests are pretty well protected," Christensen says. "Of course at the end of the day not only what we did in the Senate and the House this year, but also with the agreement SLIB [State Loan and Investment Board] has with the Department of Interior, there are a number of protections for Wyoming." Sharon Mader of the National Parks Conservation Association says it is good news for Grand Teton National Park and for the state of Wyoming. The bill goes toLegislature Passes Grand Teton Land Swap Billhttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/legislature-passes-grand-teton-land-swap-bill
54966 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgFri, 07 Mar 2014 01:42:45 +0000Legislature Passes Grand Teton Land Swap BillMelodie EdwardsA high-voltage transmission line, known as Gateway West, has been approved by the Department of the Interior. The power line will stretch 900 miles across Wyoming and into western Idaho and will transport renewable and conventionally-derived energy. Walt George with the Bureau of Land Management says the approval of two segments of the line in western Idaho have been deferred, but this won’t stop construction on the rest of the project. “The first phase which stretches from Glenrock to a substation near Downey, Idaho—segments one through four—is scheduled to begin construction in 2016,” he says. “The companies are projecting a 2 to 3 year construction period.” The line will allow Wyoming to export energy to other states since Wyoming’s low population means it produces much more power than it can ever use. George says it will be the first high-voltage transmission line of its kind in the state. Interior Department approves Gateway West transmission line http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/interior-department-approves-gateway-west-transmission-line
49866 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgWed, 13 Nov 2013 23:56:36 +0000Interior Department approves Gateway West transmission line Stephanie Joyce The federal government will pay back mineral royalties that it withheld from states under the across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration. When sequestration went into effect earlier this year, the Department of the Interior started withholding 5 percent of states' share of the royalties, which are paid on resources like coal and oil extracted from federal lands. For Wyoming, that's amounted to more than $40 million. On Monday, DOI announced that after a legal review, it's giving the money back. “In a nutshell, this law says we’re to withhold the funds this fiscal year, but we can make the funds available during the next fiscal year,” says Office of Natural Resources Revenue spokesman Patrick Etchart. The Wyoming Congressional delegation pointed out that provision of the law back in May when urging the federal government to return the monies. There’s no definitive date for the funds to be repaid. Feds to pay Wyoming more than $40M in back royaltieshttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/feds-pay-wyoming-more-40m-back-royalties
46001 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgTue, 27 Aug 2013 22:47:25 +0000Feds to pay Wyoming more than $40M in back royaltiesIrina ZhorovSecretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced the approval of three major renewable energy projects on public lands. Jewell emphasized her commitment to President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and said one of her top priorities was to continue the work started by her predecessor, Ken Salazar, to expand the nation’s renewable energy portfolio. “Interior has now approved a total of 45 renewable energy projects, including 25 utility scale solar facilities, 9 wind farms, and 11 geothermal plants, including associated transmission corridors and infrastructure to connect to established power grids. In aggregate, these projects are helping power our nation, strengthen our economy, and diversify our energy portfolio,” said Jewell. The projects Jewell announced today are in Arizona and Nevada. The DOI approved the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project in Wyoming, about half of which sits on public land, last year. Dept. of Interior approves 3 major renewable energy projectshttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/dept-interior-approves-3-major-renewable-energy-projects
41720 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgMon, 03 Jun 2013 21:03:17 +0000Dept. of Interior approves 3 major renewable energy projectsBob BeckThe Senate Energy Committee voted to approve the nomination of Sally Jewel to be the next Interior Secretary despite the objections of Wyoming U-S Senator John Barrasso. Barrasso was one of three members of the Senate Energy Committee to oppose the nomination. Barrasso told the committee that he received vague answers from Jewel concerning a variety of topics, but his largest criticism surrounds the fact that Jewel was Vice Chairman of the National Parks Conservation Association. “During her tenure as Vice Chairman of that group, NPCA has frequently sued the federal government to shut down energy production and has sought aggressive regulations that threaten American jobs. For example NCPA has sought to dramatically to expand the BLM’s hydraulic fracturing rule and the OSM’s stream regulations, two rules that would make it harder to produce American energy.” Jewel’s nomination will now be voted on by the full Senate. She would oversee more than 500 million acres of national parks andBarrasso votes no on Interior nomineehttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/barrasso-votes-no-interior-nominee
38334 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgFri, 22 Mar 2013 00:58:02 +0000Barrasso votes no on Interior nomineeIrina ZhorovThe US Department of the Interior has assembled a task force and an action plan to investigate coal exports. The move comes after a letter from US Senators Wyden, of Oregon, and Murkowski, of Alaska, asked the agency to find out whether coal companies are properly reporting their sales. Increasingly, Wyoming’s coal producers are examining markets overseas to make up for a slump in domestic sales. Companies can fetch significantly higher prices for coal in Asian markets, and by selling through an affiliated intermediary, they could report the initial sale instead of the higher, final sale. Royalties to the federal government calculated using the lower number would be less. Wyoming Department of Audit Director, Jeffrey Vogel, says more than 99% of the sales they audit are in compliance, but it’s always good to review. “It’s the nature of the auditing business, to look back at what’s been, what’s been recorded, how well it’s being presented, as well,” said Vogel. “In this case we’re goingDOI to investigate coal sales to overseas marketshttp://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/doi-investigate-coal-sales-overseas-markets
36536 as http://wyomingpublicmedia.orgTue, 12 Feb 2013 00:20:22 +0000DOI to investigate coal sales to overseas markets